Strategic Forum unveils tower crane safety plan

The Strategic Forum has unveiled a short-term plan to address widespread concerns about tower crane safety following the spate of high-profile collapses.

The Forum agreed that the industry needs to address the following areas:

• Ensure that site-specific inductions are provided to all those in control of tower crane erection, operation and dismantling, with an emphasis on appropriate risk assessment.
• Review the levels and extent of individual competency for all, including operators and those carrying out inspection and maintenance procedures, with a focus on training support.
• Ensure robust and thorough examination and maintenance regimes.
• Improve operator working conditions, such as using external crane hoists for access, ensuring adequate welfare facilities and reasonable working hours.
• Improve communications on site among those in control of crane operation, including open dialogue between site management and crane operators to ensure that operator concerns can be raised without risk of retribution, such as wind restrictions in adverse weather conditions.
• Better sharing of information in relation to incidents and near hits.
• Improve communication to the public, providing clear information in relation to crane issues including examination processes.

The seven-point plan emerged after a meeting last Thursday (9 August) of the Forum's health and safety task group.

Chairman John Spanswick said: "Tower cranes are the most visible and largest piece of equipment on site and present a major potential hazard. It is important to maintain focus on the safe use of tower cranes and review regularly so that agreed action plans are being implemented."

The Forum's health and safety group will meet again within six months. Those who attended the meeting last Thursday were:

• Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group
• Construction Confederation
• Construction Plant-hire Association (including Vertical Transportation, City Lifting, McCarthy & Stone, Kier Plant and HTC Plant) 
• ConstructionSkills
• Home Builders Federation (including Barratt)
• Mitsui Sumitano Insurance
• Major Contractors Group (including Bovis Lend Lease and Galliford Try)
• Potain 
• Sir Robert McAlpine
• Safety Assessment Federation
• United Crane Operators Association